Corolla Diameter Research Articles

Floral Traits and Foraging Behavior of the Bee Assemblage Visiting Martynia annua L. (Martyniaceae) in Coastal Jalisco, Mexico

Floral visitors are often overlooked in those plants considered invasive and widespread weed species. Martynia annua L. is an example of an introduced species to the old world being native from tropical America, however, information of its endemic pollinators in the Neotropical region is missing. In this study, the floral visitors of M. annua were evaluated in Chamela Field Station (Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve) in Jalisco, Mexico. Our aim was to provide information of the breeding system of M. annua and then indicate the potential pollinators. We included morphological and sexual features to estimate the outcrossing index (OCI). The frequency, behavior, and pollen loads were considered to find the potential pollinator. Despite the evidence of protandry and OCI indicating a xenogamous breeding system, the lack of herkogamy suggests M. annua is a facultative xenogamous species. The highest frequency of visits corresponded to the maximum diameter of corolla. Euglossa viridissima was the most recurrent visitor. However, this species often carried a high proportion of heterospecific pollen and did not touch any sexual structure of the flower. In contrast, Centris agilis performed as the most likely pollinator. Flowers of M. annua offer valuable rewards to its visitors and may be a good source of energy to those foragers capable of reaching the nectaries, though small bees are apparently unable to penetrate the flowers. We consider that there are evidence that suggests M. annua is a specialized melittophilic plant, pollinated by moderate to large-sized hairy bees throughout its distribution.

Analysis of the morphological diversity of Daxigou wild apricot floral organs in Huocheng, Xinjiang, China

The main objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of Xinjiang wild apricot germplasm resources, and lay the foundation for the development and utilization of apricot resources. A total of 61 accessions of Daxigou wild apricot were collected as the research material in Huocheng, Xinjiang. The external morphological characters of the floral organs were observed. The data processing software DPS7.05 was used to calculate the diversity index and for principal component analysis, and MEGA3.0 software was used for cluster analysis. We analyzed the wild apricot flower organs for differences in 17 phenotypic traits. The average diversity index of the Daxigou wild apricot flower organs, which showed abundant morphological diversity, was 5.8872. The diversity of the morphological characters with numeric indices was better than that of the characters with non-numeric indices. The coefficient of variation of the morphological characters of flower organs varied from 6.25 to 97.93%. Through multivariate principal component analysis, we determined that the first seven principal components of the 17 traits represented most of the information on organ morphology of Daxigou wild apricot; the cumulative contribution rate was 72.6815%. Based on the clustering analysis of morphological characters, 61 wild apricot germplasm resources were finally gathered into one class. The diversity of the floral traits of Daxigou wild apricot was greater. The corolla diameter, ovary size, petal size, anther size, petal color, pedicel length, petal shape, and pollen quantity were the main factors contributing to the diversity of Daxigou wild apricot.

Population size, sex-ratio and sexual dimorphism in <em>Fuchsia parviflora</em> (Onagraceae) an endemic dioecious shrub

Background: In small dioecious populations stochastic events may increase biased sex ratios decreasing the viability of populations. Moreover, pollinators may promote pollen limitation if sexual dimorphism related to pollinator attraction, such as flower size and number of flowers are present. Questions: 1) In order to estimate the viability of natural populations of Fuchsia parviflora, population size, sex ratio and fruit production were estimated in natural populations. In addition, number of flowers and floral traits were compared between genders as a way to predict pollinator preferences to particular gender. Studied species: Fuchsia parviflora is an endemic Mexican dioecious, animal-pollinated shrub. Methods: In 2012 and 2013 population sizes and sex ratios were estimated in 12 populations in the states of Michoacan and Jalisco. In addition, the number of flowers and floral traits were estimated between genders. Results: Population sizes varied widely from 14 to 550 individuals and an overall significant male- bias was found. Male frequency varied from 50 % to 78 % among populations and some male-biased populations were also the small populations. A significant negative correlation between population size and male frequency was found, but no relationship was found between population size and number of flowers or fruit production. Reproductive plant height varied among populations but not between genders within populations. Male plants had larger number of flowers but floral longevity did not differ between genders. Consistently in all evaluated populations, staminate flowers had longer floral tubes and wider corolla diameter than pistillate flowers. Conclusions: In accordance to stochastic sex ratio fluctuations by small population sizes, it was expected to find populations with male and female-biased sex ratios. However, the absence of female-biased sex ratio suggests that male plants may have a higher survival chance but this hypothesis has to be tested. Although populations seem not to be seed-limited, some populations were cut during this study to plant avocado trees, suggesting the need to implement conservation efforts to preserve populations of F. parviflora.

Transitions from distyly to homostyly are associated with floral evolution in the buckwheat genus (Fagopyrum).

Documenting trait transitions among species with dimorphic flowers can help to test whether similar patterns of selection are responsible for divergence in floral traits among different species. Heterostyly is thought to promote outcrossing. Theory suggests that the evolutionary transition from heterostylous to homostylous flowers should be accompanied by a reduction in floral size in which pollen size and style length are expected to covary. Patterns of such correlated floral trait evolution have not, however, been widely examined. The evolutionary history of heterostyly and homostyly was reconstructed from a molecular phylogeny of 13 species of Fagopyrum and two outgroups, based on one nuclear gene (nrITS) and three chloroplast regions (matK, atpB-rbcL, and psbA-trnH spacer). Floral traits of nine Fagopyrum species including pollen number and size, as well as stigma depth (length of the capitate stigma), were measured and ancestral characters of the herkogamic condition were reconstructed. Three transitions from distyly to homostyly were observed. In two transitions, flower size (corolla diameter, pedicel length), herkogamy (stigma-anther distance) and pollen production decreased, but stigma depth and pollen size did not. Changes of anther height and style length were inconsistent. The predicted positive relationship between style length and pollen size in the two transitions to homostyly was not observed. Floral evolution accompanying transitions to homostyly in Fagopyrum were found to be consistent with predictions of mating system evolution theory, and the correlation of traits in distylous vs. homostylous species revealed that pollen size generally correlates with stigma depth rather than style length.

Adaptations of the floral characteristics and biomass allocation patterns of Gentiana hexaphylla to the altitudinal gradient of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

This study addressed the floral component traits and biomass allocation patterns of Gentiana hexaphylla as well as the relationships of these parameters along an elevation gradient (approximately 3700 m, 3800 m, 3900 m, and 4000 m) on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plant height, floral characteristics, and biomass allocation of G. hexaphylla were measured at different altitudes after field sampling, sorting, and drying. Plant height was significantly greater at 3700 m than that at other elevations. Flower length was significantly greater at 4000 m than that at other elevations, whereas the flower length at low elevations showed no significant differences. Corolla diameter increased with altitude, although the difference was not significant between 3800 m and 3900 m. Variations in biomass accumulation, including the aboveground, photosynthetic organ, flower and belowground biomasses, showed non-linear responses to changes in altitude. The aboveground and photosynthetic organ biomasses reached their lowest values at 4000 m, whereas the belowground and flower biomass reached minimum values at 3700 m. The sexual reproductive allocation of G. hexaphylla also increased with altitude, with a maximum observed at 4000 m. These results suggest that external environmental factors and altitudinal gradients as well as the biomass accumulation and allocation of G. hexaphylla play crucial roles in plant traits and significantly affect the ability of this species to adapt to harsh environments. The decreased number of flowers observed at higher altitudes may indicate a compensatory response for the lack of pollinators at high elevations, which is also suggested by the deformed flower shapes at high altitudes. In addition, the individual plant biomass (i.e., plant size) had significantly effect on flower length and corolla diameter. Based on the organ biomass results, the optimal altitude for G. hexaphylla in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is 3800 m, where the plant exhibits minimum propagule biomass and asexual reproductive allocation.

The study of online digitized specimens revalidates Andersonglossum boreale as a species different from A. virginianum (Boraginaceae)

Cynoglossum virginianum L., now transferred to the genus Andersonglossum as A. virginianum (L.) J.I.Cohen, has been traditionally considered to be formed by two infraspecific taxa: var. virginianum, and var. boreale (Fernald) Cooperr. The var. boreale was originally described as an independent species, Cynoglossum boreale Fernald, and remained treated as such until its combination as a variety of C. virginianum. However, no analysis exists that objectively compares both taxa in order to properly assess their taxonomic relationships. We performed a morphometric study to help elucidate their taxonomy. We found that both species are distinguishable using a few characters, despite slight overlap in nutlet length, corolla diameter, and calyx length, all traditionally considered to identify both taxa. The relatively large amount of variation in calyx dimensions seems to be the reason for most recent authors treating the two taxa at varietal rank. We provide the new combination Andersonglossum boreale (Fernald) Jim.Mejías, J.I.Cohen & Naczi to allow treating Cynoglossum boreale as a distinct species under its new generic circumscription.

Flower, fruit phenology and flower traits in Cordia boissieri (Boraginaceae) from northeastern Mexico.

We characterized variations in Cordia boissieri flowers and established if these variations occur between plants or between flowering events. Flowering and fruiting was measured for 256 plants. A GLM test was used to determine the relationship between flowering and fruit set processes and rainfall. We performed measurements of floral traits to detect variations within the population and between flowering events. The position of the anthers with respect to the ovary was determined in 1,500 flowers. Three out of four flowering events of >80% C. boissieri plants occurred after rainfall events. Only one flowering event occurred in a drought. Most plants flowered at least twice a year. The overlapping of flowering and fruiting only occurred after rainfall. Anthesis lasted three-to-five days, and there were two flower morphs. Half of the plants had longistylus and half had brevistylus flowers. Anacahuita flower in our study had 1–4 styles; 2–9 stamens; 6.5–41.5 mm long corolla; sepals from 4.5–29.5 mm in length; a total length from 15.5–59 mm; a corolla diameter from 10.5–77 mm. The nectar guide had a diameter from 5–30.5 mm; 4–9 lobes; and 5 distinguishable nectar guide colors. The highest variation of phenotypic expression was observed between plants.

EVALUATION OF FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MELON HYBRIDS (Cucumis melo L.) IN POLLINATOR ATTRACTIVENESS

ABSTRACT Floral morphology and biology are important characteristics for plant-pollinator interactions and may influence the behavior of these agents. This study aimed to determine which floral attributes of different melon hybrids influence this interaction and, consequently, their attractiveness in simultaneous crops. The study was conducted in the region of Petrolina, State of Pernambuco (PE)/Juazeiro, State of Bahia (BA) and Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), in areas with the following melon hybrids: Yellow type, Piel de Sapo, Cantaloupe and Galia. For studies on floral morphology and biology, hermaphrodites and male flowers of each hybrid were analyzed for their size and nectar chamber size, pollen and nectar production, anthesis time and flower lifespan. Floral visitors were observed simultaneously in hybrids of three types of melon, from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the two study sites. Evaluations of the corolla diameter and flower height indicated that the hermaphrodite flowers were larger in size than male flowers in all types of melon investigated, in both study sites. As for nectar chamber, male flowers are larger in width, but smaller in height, compared to hermaphrodite flowers. Regarding the volume of nectar, differences were found between floral types for the hybrids evaluated, in the two study sites; the hermaphrodite flowers produced 2-7 times more nectar than male flowers in all studied hybrids. Observations of visits of Apis mellifera to areas with simultaneous flowering of the three types of melon demonstrated differences in the frequency of visits between hybrids, floral type and foraged resource. Flowers of the hybrids Piel de Sapo and Cantaloupe exhibited larger corolla diameter, larger dimensions of the nectar chamber and greater supply of resources for foraging, which could explain the higher number of visits of bees to their flowers in the sites studied.

IMPACTS OF POLYPLOIDY ON BLOOMING AND FLOWER MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF KIWIFRUIT CULTIVARS

In this study, 60 kiwifruit cultivars selected from wild accessions in China and abroad were used as test materials, including 20 diploid and tetraploid cultivars of A. chinensis var. chinensis and 20 hexaploid cultivars of A. chinensis var. deliciosa. Flowering phenophase and flowering characteristics over three consecutive years were investigated to determine the correlation between ploidy level of all cultivars and their flowering period and morphological traits. The results indicated: (1) There was a very significant positive correlation between ploidy level of all cultivars and their initial blooming date at a level of 0.01. With the increase in ploidy, the initial blooming date was gradually delayed and showed a continuous distribution. (2) There were no significant differences in flowering duration among different ploidy cultivars of the same gender but there was significant difference in flowering duration between different gender cultivars of the same ploidy. The duration of flowering for male cultivars was 3-10 days longer than that for female cultivars. (3) For flower morphological traits, there were obvious differences in corolla diameter among cultivars with different ploidy, showing positive correlation. There were significant differences in petal number and stamen number (in particular) between diploid and tetraploid A. chinensis cultivars and hexaploid A. chinensis var. deliciosa cultivars. There was a positive correlation between the number of stigma and ploidy of female flower cultivars, with significant differences in stigma number among diploid cultivars and tetraploid and hexaploid cultivars but no differences between tetraploid and hexaploid cultivars. (4) For tetraploid cultivars, A. chinensis var. deliciosa ‘Xiangma No. 6’ showed significant differences in the number of stamens compared to those of A. chinensis at the 0.01 level. However, there were no significant differences in the initial blooming date and flower size between A. chinensis var. deliciosa ‘Xiangma No. 6’ and tetraploid cultivars of A. chinensis. According to analysis of flower morphological traits, A. chinensis var. deliciosa ‘Xiangma No. 6’ clustered with hexaploid A. chinensis var. deliciosa cultivars.

Herbivory Increases Fruit Set in Silene latifolia: A Consequence of Induced Pollinator-Attracting Floral Volatiles?

Although the effect of herbivory on plant reproduction has been investigated in some detail, little is known about how herbivores affect floral signalling. Here, we investigated the effect of foliar herbivory by the African Cotton Leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) on floral signalling and fruit set in the White Campion (Silene latifolia). We found no effects of herbivory on floral traits involved in visual signalling (flower number, corolla diameter, calyx length, petal length) or in amount of nectar produced. However, Spodoptera-infested plants emitted higher amounts of the two floral volatiles, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and β-ocimene, than control plants. Open pollinated, infested plants also were found to produce more fruits than control plants, but only with nocturnal pollinators. Experimental addition of the two induced floral volatiles to non-infested Silene flowers also led to the production of more fruits with nocturnal pollination. This suggests that higher fruit production in herbivore-infested plants was caused by increased nocturnal pollinator attraction, mediated by the induced floral emission of these two volatiles. Our results show that the effects of herbivory on plant reproductive success are not necessarily detrimental, as plants can compensate herbivory with increased investment in pollinator attraction.

Does Altering Local Water Availability for an Invasive Plant (Raphanus raphanistrum) Affect Floral Morphology and Reproductive Potential?

Abiotic environmental variation can have dramatic effects on plant floral morphology and nectar or pollen rewards. In response, pollinators may change their foraging behavior and distribution and if pollinators change their foraging behavior or distribution, this could have dramatic effects on the reproductive success of plant populations. To start tackling this problem, we measured the response of floral morphology (corolla diameter, stamen length, and ovule number) of Raphanus raphanistrum to experimental manipulations of field soil moisture. As soil moisture increased, corolla diameter and anther length grew. We expect these changes to provide more visitation rewards for insects in moist conditions. Therefore, water availability influences growth and development of flowers, and may have dramatic effects on insect community dynamics. KEYWORDS: Floral Rewards, Climate, Rain-out Shelters, Flower Morphology, Raphanus raphanistrum, Brassicaceae

CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSGENIC RAPE (Brassica napus L.) OVEREXPRESSING ARGOS-LIKE GENE FROM Arabidopsis thaliana USING THE FLORAL DIP METHOD

In this paper, we present transgenic rape plants overexpressing the ARGOS-LIKE gene from Arabidopsis thaliana that have been obtained by the floral dip method. The transformation success rate for rape cultivars of Hanna and Ratnik averaged at 10%. In comparison with control wild-type plants, transgenic plants showed the greater organ size: 27% in the stem length, 58% in the leaf length, 40% in the leaf width, 22% in corolla diameter, 23% in seed volume and 29% in seed weight. The lower epidermis cell area in transgenic plants increased on average by 18%. It was shown that the ARGOS-LIKE gene from A. thaliana along with the promoter of dahlia mosaic virus can be used for the enlargement of organ size in rape.

Association between inbreeding depression and floral traits in a generalist-pollinated plant.

Individual variation in the magnitude of inbreeding depression (ID) in plants and its association with phenotypic traits may have important consequences for mating system evolution.This association has been investigated only scarcely, and always considering traits functionally related to autogamy. Here, we explore the association between individual variation in ID and plant traits associated with pollinator attractiveness (related to plant size, corolla size and corolla shape) in two populations of Erysimum mediohispanicum (Brassicaceae). ID was calculated along the entire life cycle of the plants. In addition, we also explored the relationship between phenotypic traits and the individual levels of heterozygosity. We found significant associations between ID and corolla diameter and stalk height,being taller plants with larger corollas those undergoing a lower intensity of ID. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship between corolla diameter and heterozygosity, suggesting that plants with large flowers have purged their genetic load. Finally, we found a significant effect of corolla diameter on the intrapopulation genetic structure. All these findings suggest that plants with large flowers have secularly suffered frequent inbreeding in the study populations. Because corolla diameter is a trait frequently selected by pollinators in E.mediohispanicum, we believe that the observed relationship between this trait and ID could be mediated by pollinators, probably throughout an increasing in biparental inbreeding, geitonogamy or autogamy.

Population genetic structure and trait associations in forest savory using molecular, morphological and phytochemical markers.

In this investigation, morphological, phytochemical and ISSR markers were used to estimate the relationships among and within seven populations of white savory (Satureja mutica), belonging to four provinces in Iran. The individuals were phenotypically diverse, which stamen length, corolla length, corolla diameter, calyx length, bract length, inflorescence length, calyx length and bracteole width were characteristics with the highest variation. Leaf dimensions were in significant correlation with flower and inflorescence characteristics. Chemical compounds of essential oils were found variable in various individuals and all samples were principally composed of phenolic constituents (carvacrol and/or thymol). As a consequence, the plants were classified into two major chemotypes including carvacrol and thymol. A total of 197 band positions were produced by 14 ISSR primers, of which 176 were found polymorphic with 88.91% polymorphism. ISSR genetic similarity values among individuals ranged between 0.45 and 0.94 which was indicative of a high level of genetic variation. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) revealed that phytochemical compositions as dependent variable, showed statistically significant correlation and in association with leaf and flower traits as independent variable, indicating a main role of leaf and flower on production of these compounds. Also, several ISSR fragments were found associated with some morphological traits and phytochemical compositions. The high diversity within and among populations of S. mutica according to different data systems could provide useful information for conservation and selection of cross-parents in breeding programs.

SMALL AND UGLY? PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES OF THE “SELFING SYNDROME” REVEAL COMPLEX EVOLUTIONARY FATES OF MONOMORPHIC PRIMROSE FLOWERS

One of the most common trends in plant evolution, loss of self-incompatibility and ensuing increases in selfing, is generally assumed to be associated with a suite of phenotypic changes, notably a reduction of floral size, termed the selfing syndrome. We investigate whether floral morphological traits indeed decrease in a deterministic fashion after losses of self-incompatibility, as traditionally expected, using a phylogeny of 124 primrose species containing nine independent transitions from heterostyly (heteromorphic incompatibility) to homostyly (monomorphic self-compatibility), a classic system for evolution of selfing. We find similar overall variability of homostylous and heterostylous species, except for diminished herkogamy in homostyles. Bayesian mixed models demonstrate differences between homostylous and heterostylous species in all traits, but net effects across species are small (except herkogamy) and directionality differs among traits. Strongly drift-like evolutionary trajectories of corolla tube length and corolla diameter inferred by Ornstein-Uhlenbeck models contrast with expected deterministic trajectories toward small floral size. Lineage-specific population genetic effects associated with evolution of selfing may explain that reductions of floral size represent one of several possible outcomes of floral evolution after loss of heterostyly in primroses. Contrary to the traditional paradigm, selfing syndromes may, but do not necessarily evolve in response to increased selfing.

Geographic Flower Trait Variation of <i>Aquilegia buergeriana</i> Sieb. et Zucc. var. <i>buergeriana</i> on Mt. Norikura and the Utsukushigahara Highland, Japan

Many studies have argued the importance of the flower-pollinator size matching for flower trait diversification. However, non-pollinator agents may also influence flower traits. In this study, we investigated the altitudinal variation of flower size (spur length, stamen length, petal blade length, corolla diameter, and sepal length) and flower visitors of Aquilegia buergeriana var. buergeriana (long-spurred columbine) in central Japan. Although this species was primarily visited by Bombus consobrinus, which has an unvarying mouthpart length, flower sizes varied greatly among populations with no correlation with altitude. These results suggest that non-pollinator and non-meteorological agents, directly and/or indirectly, impose selection pressure on flower size in A. buergeriana.

Epistasis and inheritance of plant habit and fruit quality traits in ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).

Two accessions of ornamental pepper Capsicum annuum L., differing in most of the characters studied, were crossed, resulting in the F1 generation, and the F2 generation was obtained through self-fertilization of the F1 generation. The backcross generations RC1 and RC2 were obtained through crossing between F1 and the parents P1 and P2, respectively. Morpho-agronomic characterization was performed based on the 19 quantitative descriptors of Capsicum. The data obtained were subjected to generation analysis, in which the means and additive variance (σa(2)), variance due to dominance deviation (σd(2)), phenotypic variance (σf(2)), genetic variance (σg(2)) and environmental variance (σm(2)) were calculated. For the full model, we estimated the mean effects of all possible homozygotes, additives, dominants, and epistatics: additive-additive, additive-dominant, and dominant-dominant. For the additive-dominant model, we estimated the additive effects, dominant effects and mean effects of possible homozygotes. The character fruit dry matter had the lowest value for broad sense heritability (0.42), and the highest values were found for fresh matter and fruit weight, 0.91 and 0.92, respectively. The lowest value for narrow sense heritability was for the minor fruit diameter character (0.33), and the highest values were found for seed yield per fruit and fresh matter, 0.87 and 0.84, respectively. The additive-dominant model explained only the variation found in plant height, canopy width, stem length, corolla diameter, leaf width, and pedicel length, but in the other characters, the epistatic effects showed significant values.

Features of the flower’s structure in the genus Primula L. from collections of Research Institute of BG UNN

Here are represented some investigation results of the morphological multivariance of the flower in different species and hybrids of the genus Primula L. from the collection of Research Institute of Botanical Garden UNN. These investigations were carried out during 2011-2013. The regularities of changes in diameter of corolla depending from the number of its lobes were ascertained and discussed. Particularly, some samples showed a tendency to increase or decrease CV of the diameter and the number of corolla lobes depending on the year of the study.

Phenotypic variation in populations of <I>Solanum rostratum</I> in different distribution areas in China

Aims The invasive alien plant Solanum rostratum has different phenotypes in different distribution areas in China. Our objectives were to determine the reason for the phenotype variation and to find typical traits of the phenotype variation. Methods Seeds of S. rostratum collected from nine areas of distribution in China were sowed in a common gar- den. We investigated 10 phenotypic traits and used one-way ANOVA, principal component analysis, UPGMA cluster analysis and correlation analysis to analyze results. Important findings Inter-population variation was significant in all morphological characters (p < 0.01), indi- cating that the phenotypic variation had a genetic foundation. The coefficient of variation of reproductive organs (CV = 18.2%) was higher than that of vegetative organs (CV = 9%). Analysis of CV and the principal component analysis of phenotypic traits both indicated that the traits of radius, corolla diameter, internode space and plant height were the main factors accounting for the phenotypic variations. According to UPGMA cluster analysis, the nine populations could be divided into three groups. These cluster results were not due to geographic distances.

Quantitative trait locus mapping of floral and related traits using an F2 population of Aquilegia

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying ten floral and related traits in Aquilegia. The traits assessed were calyx diameter, corolla diameter, petal length, petal blade length, sepal length, sepal width, spur length, spur width, plant height and flower number. These are important traits for ornamental value and reproductive isolation of Aquilegia. QTL analysis of these traits was conducted using single‐marker analysis and composite interval mapping (CIM). We used an F2 population consisting of 148 individuals derived from a cross between the Chinese wild species Aquilegia oxysepala and the cultivar Aquilegia flabellata ‘pumila’. Resulting CIM analysis identified 39 QTLs associated with these traits, which were mapped on seven linkage groups. These QTLs could explain 1.22–53.28% of the phenotypic variance. Thirty‐one QTLs, which explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variation, were classified as major QTLs. Graphical representations of the QTLs on seven linkage groups were made. Our research provides the potential for future molecular assisted selection breeding programmes and the cloning of target genes through fine mapping.